NORTH KOREA: An American man has recounted an eerie tale of when he visited the mysterious fifth floor of a Pyongyang hotel they were told didn’t exist. A trip to the same hotel resulted in the detention and death of US student Otto Warmbier last year - so what is North Korea hiding?

North Korea is a country shrouded in mystery and now a US doctor has opened up about the night he spent exploring a North Korean hotel and the floor they were told didn’t exist.

Calvin Sun told his tale to the BBC and is cautioning travellers to stay away from the Hermit State.

Sun’s night spent wandering the mysterious fifth floor of the Yanggakdo Hotel in Pyongyang in 2011 echoes the tale of American university student Otto Warmbier - only Warmbier was incarcerated for his actions and died in jail in 2017.

Back in 2011, Western tourists hoping to visit North Korea needed to go through private tour operators. Sun chose one that went to the nation through China along with a group of other travellers all in their twenties.

They were staying in the Yanggakdo Hotel in the capital. According to North Korea tour operator KTG, the Pyongyang establishment has 47 floors and 1001 bedrooms.

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North Korea: American reveals how he explored the fifth floor of the Yanggakdo Hotel that officials say doesn’t exist

“This is one of the largest hotels in the DPRK and one that offers some of the best conditions,” the write. “While staying here you will never be bored as it has countless facilities. The staff is extremely friendly too always willing to engage with foreigners.”

The North Korean Tourist board describes the Yanggakdo Hotel as a five-star hotel but tourist reviews describe it as closer to just three.

Neither the North Korean government or the Yanggakdo Hotel, have ever confirmed the existence of a fifth floor in the hotel.

The fifth floor of the hotel was never mentioned to Sun and his new friends by the hotel or their guides, although it was a source of intrigue among some of the travellers in Sun’s group who had heard rumours of it.

When returning from an evening of drinking on the last night of their holiday, the group spotted that no fifth floor showed up on the buttons in the lift. Their interest piqued, they decided to investigate the mysterious floor themselves via the stairs.

They observed how low the ceilings were and that most rooms on the corridor were locked. One open room featured security cameras and TV screens depicting the hotel’s rooms.

North Korea: The group spotted that no fifth floor showed up on the buttons in the lift of the hotel (Image: Calvin Sun monsoondiaries.com)

North Korea: The group decided to investigate the mysterious floor themselves via the stairs (Image: Calvin Sun monsoondiaries.com)

Throughout, the walls were adorned with colourful anti-American and anti-Japanese propaganda paintings and framed hangings. A much-glorified Kim Jong II was in several of the images.

One caption read: "This bomb is the product of the Americans. Every product of the Americans is our enemy. Get revenge a thousand hundred times against the Americans."

Many of the posters lauded the Kim family while speaking of revenge on the US.

The group were eventually found by guards and were told calmly to return to their rooms - but their was no sign of anger.

"We were all in our early 20s. We were foolish. We were very naive,” Sun told the BBC. “The experience seemed exciting and innocent. After everything that has happened since then and taking responsibility, knowing what I know now, I would not have done it."

North Korea: "Our General is the best" declared propaganda posters, praising the Kim family (Image: Calvin Sun monsoondiaries.com)

Sun has revealed how he didn’t put much thought into the event until 2017 and the death of Otto Warmbier after visiting North Korea with the same tour operator - Young Pioneer Tours - and exploring the same hotel and its ‘non-existent’ fifth floor.

In 2015, Warmbier was accused of attempting to steal a North Korean poster while in the hotel. He was subjected to a sham trial and forced into a TV confession.

He was sentenced to fifteen years hard labour but sustained injuries while in prison. He fell into a coma and died - his death making international headlines.

Sun told the BBC: ”I feel terrible about what happened to Otto. And knowing what we now know, I would certainly advise all travellers to respect the customs of the country they are visiting.

“But back then, there was no way I could have known that we were being reckless or what we did could have resulted in such a tragic and serious outcome as Otto's."